Track plans had jumped the gun

Saddleworth Parish Council
PLANS to remove the running track from Churchill playing fields in Greenfield are not set in stone according to the councillor spearheading the scheme amid mounting anger over the proposals.

A heated debate took place at the Saddleworth Parish Council meeting last night after it was revealed that a drainage overhaul of the fields would see the track disappear for good.

Saddleworth Runners were enraged at the prospect and angered over the lack of consultation.

However, Councillor Barbara Beeley said: “We haven’t kept any secrets with this project.

“Talks have been going on for a year but with the bad weather it is only now that we have plans to ask people’s opinion.

“We have already spoke to local sports clubs and their ideas will be incorporated.

“It is not set in a tablet of stone and now we are consulting.”

Funding from the Football Foundation and the Rugby Football League is being sought, hence organisers having to cater to their requirements and increase pitch facilities. However, Councillor Ken Hulme still believes the consultation has been inadequate.

He has made an official complaint to Oldham Council regarding the project by the Saddleworth and Lees District Partnership.

According to councillor Hulme, the working group have failed in their legal “duty to involve” by not consulting local groups about the funding bids.

He said: “The problem is that this isn’t what local people want.

“This is what the group think they can get the money for and that should come second.

“Right from the start the public should have been involved and they have not been to the standards required.

“I’m really worried this has been done without consultation.

“For something as important as the track that means a lot to many people and most knew nothing about these plans until last week.”

Councillor John Hudson said: “Nobody wants to pour water on to something as ambitious as this and it will be fruitful but we cannot lose sight that it is what is needed for Saddleworth and the people that is important.”

According to councillor Beeley, sports groups were invited to a meeting to discuss the plans on February 17.

She also argues that the Saddleworth Runners chose not to attend, send apologies of make any further contact with organisers.

However, Jill Davies, chairman of the runners, said: “We were not contacted.

“As far as we are concerned we have heard nothing, not a thing.”

Councillor Brian Lord questioned how often the running track is used.

He said: “We have got to be realistic, money is at the root of everything.

“We’ve got to be sensible, we are never going to provide something that everyone is happy with but if this money falls through it will simply not get done.”

A public meeting takes place at the civic hall in Uppermill tonight from 7.30pm.